*[Enwl-eng] [press-release] IOTC fails to protect vulnerable Indian Ocean albacore tuna, sharks – Greenpeace
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May 10, 2013, 1:53:01 PM5/10/13
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*IOTC fails to protect vulnerable Indian Ocean albacore tuna, sharks –
Greenpeace *
Port Louis, Mauritius, May 10, 2013 – Greenpeace International condemned
on Friday the lack of action by Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)
members to halt the decline of the region's most vulnerable tuna species
and for adopting inadequate measures to protect sharks.
IOTC members meeting in Mauritius did agree to the introduction of
precautionary fishing limits, in principle, although the management
scheme required to ensure this is achieved will not be negotiated until
next year (1).
Measures were agreed for endangered whale sharks, cetaceans (such as
whales, dolphins and porpoises) and oceanic white tip sharks (2) that
protect them from being intentionally caught in purse seine and longline
fisheries, but other destructive shark fishing practices were allowed to
continue. (3)
"Although a positive commitment was made – driven by the Maldives – to
prevent stock depletion in the future, the current situation leaves
little room for optimism. The Indian Ocean's tuna stocks hang in the
balance as fishing intensifies and the region currently lacks the data
needed to properly manage its fishing capacity and effort," Greenpeace
International oceans campaigner Sari Tolvanen said.
"IOTC members failed to adopt a proposal to cut catches of albacore tuna
by 30% to protect the most vulnerable tuna species in the region, and to
eliminate the wasteful practice of shark finning. Purse seining with
destructive Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) also continues with little
control."
Greenpeace International warned that resistance from various coastal
states to precautionary conservation measures and the creation of more
exemptions for smaller scale fleets will jeopardise the sustainability
of tuna fisheries and the livelihoods and food security of fishing
communities.
"Countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Oman refuse to apply
management measures to their smaller fleets. This is detrimental to the
sustainability of those fleets and the people who depend on them,"
Tolvanen added.
The Greenpeace ship Esperanza has been documenting fishing activities in
the Indian Ocean since March, observing suspicious transfers of fish at
sea and exposing suspected illegal fishing in the protected Chagos waters.
/Greenpeace is campaigning for a more sustainable fishing industry and a
global network of fully protected marine reserves at sea, both necessary
steps to ensure healthy, living oceans for future generations.
/
*Notes:*
1. The so-called limit and target reference points adopted aim to ensure
precautionary management of the tuna and swordfish stocks so that no
overfishing takes place. These will need to be strengthened in the
future along with best international practice and new scientific advice.
The harvest control rules to implement them also need to be adopted at a
later stage.??
2. Only agreed as an interim measure until 2016 when this will be reviewed.
3. Proposals to protect hammerhead and silky sharks by not allowing them
to be taken on board as well as a ban on removing shark fins were not
adopted.
*Contact:*
Sari Tolvanen, Greenpeace International oceans campaigner in Mauritius,
+31 (0) 6 55 125 480
??Aaron Gray-Block, Greenpeace International media officer on board the
Esperanza, VSAT 1: +47 2367 7986, ca...@myez.greenpeace.org
From: "Aaron Gray-Block" <aaron.gr...@greenpeace.org>
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2013 8:16 PM
Subject: [press-release] IOTC fails to protect vulnerable Indian Ocean
albacore tuna, sharks – Greenpeace
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Greenpeace *
Port Louis, Mauritius, May 10, 2013 – Greenpeace International condemned
on Friday the lack of action by Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)
members to halt the decline of the region's most vulnerable tuna species
and for adopting inadequate measures to protect sharks.
IOTC members meeting in Mauritius did agree to the introduction of
precautionary fishing limits, in principle, although the management
scheme required to ensure this is achieved will not be negotiated until
next year (1).
Measures were agreed for endangered whale sharks, cetaceans (such as
whales, dolphins and porpoises) and oceanic white tip sharks (2) that
protect them from being intentionally caught in purse seine and longline
fisheries, but other destructive shark fishing practices were allowed to
continue. (3)
"Although a positive commitment was made – driven by the Maldives – to
prevent stock depletion in the future, the current situation leaves
little room for optimism. The Indian Ocean's tuna stocks hang in the
balance as fishing intensifies and the region currently lacks the data
needed to properly manage its fishing capacity and effort," Greenpeace
International oceans campaigner Sari Tolvanen said.
"IOTC members failed to adopt a proposal to cut catches of albacore tuna
by 30% to protect the most vulnerable tuna species in the region, and to
eliminate the wasteful practice of shark finning. Purse seining with
destructive Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) also continues with little
control."
Greenpeace International warned that resistance from various coastal
states to precautionary conservation measures and the creation of more
exemptions for smaller scale fleets will jeopardise the sustainability
of tuna fisheries and the livelihoods and food security of fishing
communities.
"Countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Oman refuse to apply
management measures to their smaller fleets. This is detrimental to the
sustainability of those fleets and the people who depend on them,"
Tolvanen added.
The Greenpeace ship Esperanza has been documenting fishing activities in
the Indian Ocean since March, observing suspicious transfers of fish at
sea and exposing suspected illegal fishing in the protected Chagos waters.
/Greenpeace is campaigning for a more sustainable fishing industry and a
global network of fully protected marine reserves at sea, both necessary
steps to ensure healthy, living oceans for future generations.
/
*Notes:*
1. The so-called limit and target reference points adopted aim to ensure
precautionary management of the tuna and swordfish stocks so that no
overfishing takes place. These will need to be strengthened in the
future along with best international practice and new scientific advice.
The harvest control rules to implement them also need to be adopted at a
later stage.??
2. Only agreed as an interim measure until 2016 when this will be reviewed.
3. Proposals to protect hammerhead and silky sharks by not allowing them
to be taken on board as well as a ban on removing shark fins were not
adopted.
*Contact:*
Sari Tolvanen, Greenpeace International oceans campaigner in Mauritius,
+31 (0) 6 55 125 480
??Aaron Gray-Block, Greenpeace International media officer on board the
Esperanza, VSAT 1: +47 2367 7986, ca...@myez.greenpeace.org
From: "Aaron Gray-Block" <aaron.gr...@greenpeace.org>
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2013 8:16 PM
Subject: [press-release] IOTC fails to protect vulnerable Indian Ocean
albacore tuna, sharks – Greenpeace
------------- * ENWL * ------------
Ecological North West Line * St. Petersburg, Russia
Independent Environmental Net Service: http://www.bellona.ru/enwl/
Russian: ENWL(discussions), ENWL-inf(FSU information), ENWL-misc(any topics)
English: ENWL-eng (world information)
en...@lew.spb.org, enwl...@lew.spb.org, en...@lew.spb.org, en...@lew.spb.org
Subscription, Moderator: vf...@lew.spb.org or en...@enw.net.ru
Archive: http://enwl.bellona.ru/pipermail/
and http://groups.google.com/group/enwl/
SEE ALSO: http://www.bellona.org (English)and http://www.bellona.ru
(Russian)
RSS: http://groups.google.ru/group/enwl/feeds?hl=ru
(C) Please refer to exclusive articles of ENWL
-------------------------------------
ONLY if your address is subscribed:
Enwl-eng mailing list
Enwl...@enwl.bellona.ru
http://enwl.bellona.ru/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/enwl-eng
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